Best external GPU solution for me?

I have an Alienware M11x R3 (see sig). I know there's a whole thread on this, but what's the best eGPU solution based on my specs? One that interests me is the ViDock. How is that? Also, I saw something called the PE4H ( http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4H.html). Does anyone know about that one?
Thanks for any help in advance!

 

Problem is you lack an express card slot so you would have to give up your wifi card, also you would have to run without the bottom plate on. The diy vidock thread has much more information on all the parts and steps you would need to follow in order to properly get your vidock working

 

So is a USB-to-Expresscard slot adapter too slow to support an external GPU?

 

Bump!
10char

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/418851-diy-egpu-experiences.html

If you haven't read through it yet, you should check out that sticky to get the basic information for eGPUs. IRC, USB is to slow to use for eGPUs. As for your other questions, I can't help you there. I'm fairly new with eGPUs too.

 

So what I get from reading the thread is that the only way I could use an eGPU is by pulling out my WiFi card and using that slot for the eGPU? Can anyone confirm this?

 

I can confirm that is what they said in the thread. It's DIY and YMMV.

 

Even Expresscard is way slower than PCI-e. Comparing USB to PCI-e is like comparing a horse and buggy to a fighter jet.

 

Yes pulling the wifi card is the only way, most people are content with using a gtx 460 so they don't run into as bad of bandwidth issues.

 

so if you had 2 usb 3.0 ports, there wouldn't be enough bandwidth?

 

This ^. I have 2 USB 3.0 ports, so wouldn't they work considering they're as fast as Thunderbolt when combined? And I know that Thunderbolt can be used for an eGPU.

 

USB isn't designed to push video through it. You would need a driver to support it. Thunderbolt was designed for video.

 

Where are you going to get a PCIe to 2x USB 3.0 adapter? If you can find one then it might work.

 

But would it work once I get the driver? I'm sure I could find the driver if I need it.

 

You still need an adapter.

 

Hah, latencies would be horrible, good luck writing a driver, etc etc.

 

So to sum up everything: there's absolutely no way I can use an eGPU unless I run without my WiFi card with my computer open, correct?

 

Correct, I have also read the DIY thread and that is what it says. You would need to run the eGPU out the wifi card slot, and then use ethernet or a USB wifi card to get internet access.

It is a shame laptop manufacturers do not make full speed express slots on laptops, eGPUs would be much more reasonable then. As it stands, you may be better off selling your laptop and getting something more practical for your needs.

 

Business
make full speed lanes means to lose the market of the gaming rigs (that is the most profitable).
Once the commercial players will bring their solution (the only Magma's existing one, costs 900$ now ), there will be a drop in prices, but don't expect too much, they will have to keep the gaming branch alive, so the solutions will be "comparable" in price to standard gaming rigs. The only way is to wait people like BPlus that make this stuff for "research" more than "retail" and buy one of their cheaper products, but due to Intel politics this may not come so near in the future. On 2014 should be release the first real compliant cable to PCIe, so i think till that date we'll have to arrange ourselves to find the best solution.

 

Right. Video card is NOT attached to USB ports. You would need some way to translate signals from USB to your video card and from your video card through the PC to the video card. No driver exists, it would have to be written as well as the proper hardware if it even exists.